Does anyone else not like Dublin?

[tirkishdelighttt]

First time in Dublin over the weekend and didn't get the hype
Really expensive (2 drinks 25 euro )
Some places in the city centre quite smelly /dirty
Some people rude especially on busses
I was paying my fare and they just pushed past me to tap the pass
I just don't get the hype of it

But how would you know what happens if you're Irish? You don't see it because it doesn't happen to you.

Many English people have told me that they have received abuse in Ireland.

It would be like an Irish person saying that Irish people receive abuse in England, and an English person coming on and saying "oh that doesn't happen at all in England".

Have you actually asked English people in Ireland what their experiences are.

I know it also happens the other way too, Irish people have told me that they have received abuse in England

Another English person living/working in Cork. While I love it here, I've never really liked Dublin, and the same for Belfast, a place I'd have no inclination to go back either. Dublin has a lot of the same problems as you see in England too in the North East where I'm from, a lot of central areas poorly maintained, homeless, drugs and all the usual.

@supersonicginandtonic Thanks for the advice on Derby. In return I'd not especially recommend Hull or Sunderland!

I went a couple of years ago and it reminded me of Preston

Underwhelmed

NC for this.

More denial as usual. It would absolutely not be acceptable to deny another's experience of racism/homophobia/ableism but for whatever reason its okay when it's anti English sentiment in Ireland, it just "never happens".

Well it does. I grew up partly in the UK and partly in South Dublin with an Irish dad and an English mum and let me tell you hell yes I experienced aggression for having am English accent, completely unprovoked, outside pubs. Never mind that you have an Irish surname and father, any excuse is good to bang on about the English, this in a place where almost everyone has some kind of link to the UK whether it's a cousin working in London or an in law.

My parents have moved to Wicklow now and I gotta say people are much more chilled out. I think all that anti English bullshit is more a Dublin thing, and yeah the city is a dump. Its hugely expensive, you're looking at London rents without the excitement and opportunities (oh and you have to get on a plane to go anywhere), and a real nasty edge to it that started creeping in circa 2018ish I'd say, shit loads of drug issues, stabby vibe, yeah you could stick to your naice suburbs but then what the hells the point? You might as well move to one of Irelands smaller and much nicer cities, Galway has been mentioned here and indeed that's a great city.

I feel better in Belfast than I do in Dublin. Its a shame because I'd love to live closer to my parents but disgusting rent + a claustrophobic and somewhat parochial vibe + the dirtiness of it, honestly you would have as good a time with just as much culture if you went to Birmingham

I'm English and have lived all over Dublin for the last 20 years and never once experienced racism.
@coxesorangepippin Although I am from Preston!

Like any big city it is ok if you know where to go and what to do. It wouldn't be top of my list to visit mainly due to the fact it is very expensive. Smaller cities like Galway and Cork are more chilled and friendly than Dublin.

I find Cork quite weird actually. Obviously just experiences I’ve had, I’m sure it’s not all strange. The Beara peninsula is beautiful.

I went to Dublin for the first time last weekend with my sister. Honestly, we had the time of our lives. Went into the actual Temple Bar for one drink at 1pm with the intention of going for a nice lunch and a walk around the city after. 1pm turned into 11pm before we knew it 😂 stumbled out of there and straight into a Chinese takeaway and got a rickshaw back to the hotel 😂

I appreciate its not for all but honestly I met so many interesting people from all walks of life in that bar, I sang and danced liked never before and just loved the friendly atmosphere.

I want to go back this weekend!

@northernstars Robert is that you? 🥰

Preston I love, no wonder it's called Paris of North, second most romantic and beautiful city just after Hull.

I live in N.I and would much rather live in Dublin! I think there is a lot more on offer there in terms of nightlife and socialising.

My number one preference however would be London, I can't afford that it would seem, but I don't think Dublin is any cheaper or much cheaper now 🥹

It really isn’t 😭 I like Dublin but I would get the hell out of here if my kids weren’t in school yet. Rent is crippling us and no prospect of a mortgage despite being able for it (self employed).

Pleasantly surprised by the love Belfast is getting.

When I was a kid the idea of anyone coming to NI for a mini-break was unfathomable. As a city I think it really packs a punch, particularly impressive given it was basically in survival mode between the late 1960s and 1998.

Also just googled Preston Paris to see the connection (saw the tower) and found there is a really horrible man by that name.

I've only been once but remember thinking it wasn't a very attractive city. I mean some parts were lovely but it wasn't the sort of place you go to and think "Oh this is beautiful!". However, I really liked it - liked the atmosphere and the pubs. People were friendly, no one was rude.

Dublin isn't just a city, it's an entire county of Ireland. It has a beautiful coastline, the Dublin mountains and, as I said before, lots of small towns and villages. The city is only a small party of Dublin and yes, it's lost a lot of its character. A succession of ignorant and greedy developers, Councillors and Politicians have allowed it to be ripped apart across the years, lovely old Georgian buildings being replaced by ugly office blocks and hotels. Even the once expensive and elegant Grafton Street is now mainly full of dull generic shops that you would find in any European city.
Today it is mainly full of tourists, office workers who get the hell out of the place at 5.30, and down and outs. Young people do socialise there but in certain places, and on a Friday you will find groups of colleagues having a couple of drinks before getting the train or bus home. But in general it is not a place where most Dubliners regularly go to meet friends and socialise. During Covid, when offices were closed and tourists couldn't come, it was just a ghost town.

@Nyporeon m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEpzLQ4wa0s

Visited with my mate in the mid 1990s when we were 17. We had no plan whatsoever and arrived in Dublin. Hated it. My mate got pickpocketed at St Stephen's Green and we gave up and went to Galway on the recommendation of backpackers where we were staying.

Had a fabulous 2 weeks in Galway during the art festival. Much, much nicer vibe.

I love Dublin. I live here (have done for 20 years) and it will always be in my heart. I am saddened to see its increasing destruction, to the point where I myself will consider leaving in a few years. Owning property as a single person without substantial inheritance/help (even with decent job) is out of the question. And it's so overpriced that even if the money fell in your lap for free you'd have the sense to use it better. Rent is a piss take for what you get. If you get it. And if you're not asked to shag the landlord or have a bunk bead with a stranger. Rents driving unique places and people away to be replaced with Starbucks. And for what? A city centre that is filled with rando hotels and vermin grey tracksuited teenage boys running around stabbing people, above the law because 'children', a weak judiciary that lets people with dozens of convictions roam
free to do it the fuck again, so much so that tourists have been warned away? A binned out of it junkie on every other corner? A 15 quid gin and tonic in Drumcondra?! I had three junkie harassments on my walk home from work which is a central medium 'nice' south side. It's like watching a loved person slowly die. So beyond depressing at the moment.

I was in Dublin at the weekend for the rugby with my English dh. We stayed in a lovely hotel right on the canal near baggot st. The sun was shining and it was beautiful. The food/ drinks were expensive but we expected that. Didn't hear or experience any anti-English sentiment and there were lots of English there for the rugby. What I noticed was lots of building work around the docks/ port and near the river so lots of money being invested perhaps.

In terms of city breaks though I do agree with others that Belfast is better. Cheaper accommodation, great quality food and drinks scene, fab music scene and more things for tourists to do.

Cork City is far superior.

@msmonstera - I'm from Belfast and feel like I would much prefer to live in Dublin. If I could afford it I would be down that road very fast lol

Saw a job I really liked the look of on LinkedIn in Dublin earlier, but of course no salary posted which is always a red flag. I would worry about affordability of living there as a single person.

Are there nice ensuite flats that you could share with one other person? Or not really much?

I guess I could buy stuff like toiletries etc up in Belfast which would maybe make things cheaper for me!

The thing is it doesn't seem to put people off moving there. So many international students who then stay on and get jobs there.

No matter how much I point out to Irish people that hating all English people doesn't make any sense, and that the people born in England today have nothing to do with what their ancestors did, it doesn't seem to get through to them.
Wow. They should love you after you explained that to them.

@Banquosfeast James Joyce also said 'when I die Dublin will be written in my heart'...
I adore Dublin. I lived there for 10 years right in the heart of the city centre, studied in Trinity College & visit several times a year. I always leave feeling homesick for it although I am not actually from there.

It's practically a MN pass time to hate Dublin! These threads appear with depressing regularity

Dublin has such a lot to offer. I have no idea where all the hate it camp are spending there time there.

I have also been to Belfast many times but it's certainly no competition for Dublin in my mind

You’d be looking at 1-1.5k pm for a room in a shared apartment! We’re in a 2 bed and it’s 2.5k pm.

That’s if you actually manage to find anything in the first place. There’s very little available and lots of competition.